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Indigenous law

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Dentons

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Dentons is home to an experienced Indigenous law team, that are regularly sought out for advice on land claims and treaty rights, in addition to negotiating agreements. The group is co-led by Calgary-based Laura Estep and Montreal-based Alexandre-Philippe Avard, who joined the group from Hydro-Québec in June 2024. Estep frequently advises clients on Indigenous law matters related to energy and natural resources projects, and Avard has in-depth knowledge of duty to consult, Indigenous land claims and treaty rights.
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Client satisfaction

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘I work with the Indigenous Law team in Quebec and they have unique expertise in historical claims which impacts private interests. The work has evolved to include the history of railway grants at the time of the creation of the railway in Eastern Canada.’

  • ‘I have worked with Alexandre-Philippe Avard and he is an excellent and rigorous lawyer who has been thinking deeply about a complex historical matter with a number of twists and turns and has been flexible in his approach.’

  • ‘Very sharp lawyers. Aware of the most recent development in the field. Extremely competent and available. A pleasure to work with. They have a specialty very rare firms carry, which make them the leaders in the field in my opinion. Also, the rates are most definitely adequate for professionals of that experience and knowledge. ’

  • 'I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Mr Avard. He is extremely knowledgeable in the field, and the ability to vulgarise difficult concepts and in simple wording. He is extremely knowledgeable, competent, passionate of his work and has the best at heart for his clients. 

Key clients

  • Enbridge Inc.
  • Enbridge Pipelines Inc.
  • PETRONAS Canada (formerly Progress Energy Canada Ltd.)
  • Syncrude Canada Ltd.
  • Hydro-Québec
  • Teal Jones Group
  • Canada China Business Council
  • Cenovus
  • EDF Renewables

Work highlights

Advising Westcoast, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., on the proposed Sunrise Expansion Program (Project), an expansion of the southern portion of its BC Pipeline system known as T-South.
Representing and advising Hydro-Québec in legal proceedings seeking the recognition of the existence of Aboriginal rights and title over large territories of the province of Québec and damages for the alleged infringement of these rights/title related to the construction and operation of power generation and transmission infrastructure in Quebec.
Representing and advising Hydro-Québec in legal proceeding brought by the Innus of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam against the Attorney General of Quebec and Hydro-Québec based on the duty to consult and accommodate in relation to the construction of a transmission line that supply electricity to the aluminium production plant of Aluminerie Alouette in Sept-Îles (Quebec).

Practice head

Laura Estep; Alexandre-Philippe Avard